Thursday, August 16, 2012

California Gift Show Concludes With Strong Performance and High-Volume Order Writing

Idyllic weather and robust optimism provided the perfect backdrop for an impressive and energized summer Market for California Gift Show. Sustained attendance of new and returning buyers, highly-trafficked showrooms busy taking orders and exceptional merchandising presentations from distinctive, in-demand lines continue to prove Los Angeles is a must-shop destination for today's modern retailer. 

As consumers become ever-more informed and discriminating in their purchasing habits, retailers seeking unique products with greater intelligence look to L.A. Mart and Los Angeles as their entrée to manufacturers known worldwide and to the innovations for which California is renowned. More than 40 states were represented. 

California's mystique was also top-of-mind on the international front spanning North America, as Canadian and Mexican merchants shopped alongside Pacific Rim buyers from Hawaii, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul, as well as Middle East retailers from Dubai and Kuwait. 

Trends resonating this Market included "Made in America" and "Made in California," reinforcing the gift show's California-centric positioning and the overall sentiment to support American manufacturing. Also highly evident and in-demand were multi-functional, multi-purposed products. "This Market witnessed an increase in retailers supporting a 'made-locally' position," said Jeff Sampson, vice president marketing, L.A. Mart/L.A. Mart Design Center/California Gift Show. "We are proud that nearly half of our permanent showrooms offer California designed/manufactured products year-round. Quite a few of those products fell into the multi-purpose category as consumers expect greater value which these multi-functional items deliver on." 

Nearly 20,000 square-feet of new/ expanded permanent resources debuted this July Market, including Western states rep group Keena; echo by Fine Lines, the new division of Fine Lines Company presenting boutique lifestyle brands; Design Center anchor PALECEK with an additional 6,500 square-feet of merchandise available for immediate purchase; Chow's Oriental Fine Arts and Noir Trading rounded out the new year-round buyer resources.

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